Does Dr. Berg have a CoQ10 brand recommendation or best practices to find a quality supplement?Updated a month ago
Dr. Berg does not currently offer a standalone CoQ10 supplement. When selecting a CoQ10 supplement, he emphasizes focusing on purity, bioavailability, and source integrity. Although Dr. Berg does not officially endorse any brand of CoQ10, the following are best practices for finding a high-quality supplement.
Best Practices for Finding a High-Quality CoQ10 Supplement
Before choosing a supplement, understand where CoQ10 naturally comes from. The highest concentrations are found in the heart muscle, liver, and kidneys; in fatty fish such as sardines and salmon; and in extra-virgin olive oil. These foods provide not just CoQ10 but also the supporting nutrients that help it function inside your cells. If you already eat these foods regularly, you may need less supplemental CoQ10.
Consider Organ-Based Supplements
If you don’t consume organ meats often, freeze-dried beef heart or beef liver supplements can serve as a natural supplemental option. Beef heart, in particular, contains CoQ10 along with carnitine, B vitamins, and other compounds that support mitochondrial energy.
Choose the Right CoQ10 Form
In a concentrated CoQ10 supplement, look for ubiquinol, the reduced and active form of CoQ10. It’s significantly more bioavailable than ubiquinone and better absorbed, especially for anyone over 35. Avoid cheap formulations that list only ubiquinone unless they specify state enhanced absorption technology.
Check the Source and Purity
Quality CoQ10 should be naturally fermented and sourced from Kaneka Q10®, the industry’s gold standard, as it is bioidentical to the CoQ10 found in the human body. Verify that the supplement has been third-party tested for purity and potency, and avoid synthetic or tobacco-derived versions.
Examine the Delivery System
CoQ10 is fat-soluble, so absorption depends heavily on the delivery medium. The best products use oil-based softgels with carriers like MCT oil, phospholipids, or sunflower lecithin. Capsules that contain freeze-dried organ powders are fine because the nutrients occur naturally within the tissue matrix, but CoQ10 capsules that deliver non-organ-based dry powder without fat are poorly absorbed and generally not worth the money.
Avoid Low-Quality Formulations
Skip products that use synthetic fillers or hydrogenated oils. Avoid gummies and chewables as they rarely deliver sufficient levels of CoQ10 and often contain added sugars, artificial colors, synthetic flavors, corn syrup, gelatin from poor sources, and chemical preservatives.
Supportive Ingredients
Look for formulas that also include vitamin E (mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols) or PQQ, which protect and enhance mitochondrial energy production.
Select the Right Amount
For maintenance, 100–200 mg per day is usually sufficient. Those under high physical demand or stress may benefit from 200–400 mg daily. Consult with a healthcare professional to determine your needs.
Check Online Reviews
Before purchasing, read customer reviews from multiple sources, including Amazon, even if you don’t plan to buy there. Reviews can reveal valuable insights about product effectiveness, consistency, and the company’s customer service quality. Look for repeated complaints about absorption issues or formula changes and weigh them against verified positive experiences.
Support Absorption and Function
Take CoQ10 with a meal that includes healthy fats such as olive oil, salmon, or avocado.
For additional information on Dr. Berg’s suggested sources of CoQ10, including supplementation, please review this video:
The #1 Best Food for CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) – https://youtu.be/3Cty_MmAaMc?si=n1qKwp0FdTkgiFrL